- Mar 16, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: May 6, 2023
Malaysia is one of the most visited Southeast Asian Countries embedded with delicious cuisines, shopping malls, stunning beaches, and many more activities. If you are planning a trip to this amazing country, then these are the top 5 food that you must experience.
Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak is known as the national dish of Malaysia. The popularity of this dish has reached beyond Malaysia to many other Southeast Asian neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Priced at around RM 11 (USD 3), this authentic dish is prepared by boiling rice with water, coconut milk, pandan leaves, and a variety of spices. Once the rice is cooked, the warm rice is served with sambal (which is usually made with chili sauce and shrimp paste), fried crispy anchovies, and roasted peanuts. Some also include an egg, calamari, fried fish, or chicken to this dish based on the buyer’s preferences. The meal is usually served on a plate with a banana leaf on it and sliced cucumbers are also paired with the dish to cool off the spiciness of the chili sambal.
Roti Canai
Roti Canai is a flaky flatbread that was created with the influence of the Indian food culture in Malaysia. Commonly known as “Roti Parata”, this dish is available at most street food stalls around Malaysia.
Roti Canai is one of the cheapest meals available in Malaysia. A portion of Roti Canai with the curries is priced around RM 2 (USD 1). It is usually served with a dhal curry and fish, or chicken curry based on your choice. In addition to the regular Roti Canai served with curries, there are other variations to the roti based on the ingredients included in the preparation of it. For instance, “Roti Telu” is a Roti prepared with an egg filling inside it. A sweet variation of the Roti Canai is called a “Roti Pisang” which is prepared by adding sliced banana inside the roti and glazing it with condensed milk or chocolate Nutella.
Char Kway Teow
Char Kway Teow is a stir-fried flat rice noodles dish that is prepared by adding soy sauce, chili, prawns, shrimp paste, cockles, bean sprouts, and Chinese chives. This delicious dish is made more flavourful by adding eggs, sliced sausages, fish cakes, bean sprouts, and a few other spices. The aroma of this dish is so appetizing that it has gained popularity among many locals as well as tourists.
A small portion of regular Char Kway Teow is priced around RM 7 (USD 2). However, the price may vary based on the portion size, and any additional vegetables or meat items included in the dish. Char Kway Teow is also available at most street vendors and restaurants.
Mee Goreng Mamak
Mee Goreng Mamak is another delicious and flavourful dish that is easily available at many street-side vendors and restaurants in Malaysia. A portion of Mee Goreng Mamak is sold at around RM 10 (USD 2).
This dish is made with yellow noodles, dried chilies, soy sauce, and eggs. It also consists of a generous amount of vegetables such as cabbage, tomatoes, shallots, and garlic, along with a choice of fish, chicken, or prawns. The aroma of a freshly prepared warm Mee Goreng Mamak is amazing, and you will feel to visit the stalls again.
Apam Balik
Apam Balik which is also known as “Ban Jian Kuih (turnover pancake) is a crispy/fluffy pancake. This sweet dish has been recognized by the Malaysian Department of National Heritage as a Heritage food in Malaysia.
The traditional Apam Balik is prepared by combining flour, coconut milk, sugar, eggs, and water. The Apam Balik may vary from one stall to another as some may prepare the pancake base to be very thin and crispy whilst others may prepare it to be as a thick fluffy pancake.
Apam Balik is mostly sold at street side stalls, and 3 pieces of Apam Balik are sold at a price of around RM 1. The filling inside the pancake usually includes crushed peanuts granulated with sugar, desiccated coconut, and sweet corn kernels. To make the pancake more flavourful and delectable Chocolate or Cheese may be added based on the buyer’s choice.
- Mar 15, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: May 6, 2023
Bangkok is the capital and the metropolitan hub of Thailand. It’s a vibrant and lively city filled with a diverse range of cuisines and shopping centers to meet the needs of all types of travelers. If you are planning a trip to this city in 2023 these are the best shopping complexes in Bangkok that are worth a visit.
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is one of Bangkok’s most fascinating luxury shopping malls which comprises a variety of high-end luxury branded products.
Inaugurated in 2005, this mall comprises a food hall, gourmet market, SEA Life Bangkok Ocean World, a mega cineplex, and a Madame Tussauds Bangkok. The interior and exterior of this shopping mall portray richness, class, and elegance.
Designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace, and Bvlgari along with many other high-end branded products are available at this shopping complex. The variety of luxury branded products, stunning ambiance, and the range of activities available at this mall have attracted many wealthy lucrative spenders and social media influencers locally to this shopping complex.
The shopping Centre can be reached by the BTS Skytrain Sukhumvit, Silom, and Siam Station. The opening hours of this mall are from 10 AM to 10 PM daily.
Tip: Siam Paragon has gained the attention of many locals and foreigners visiting Bangkok city, to avoid crowds it’s ideal to visit the mall preferably in the mornings on weekdays.
Terminal 21
Terminal 21 is one of the unique shopping complexes in Bangkok. Located at Asok, Bangkok the interior of this mall is designed to portray an interior like an airport. The mall consists of several floors and each floor has a theme representing a city of a specific country. Ranging from London to Tokyo each floor is distinct from the other and has an ambiance that resembles a specific city/country.
Terminal 21 has 3 branches throughout Thailand. The Asok branch in Bangkok was opened in 2011 and comprises a large collection of culturally diverse clothing shops, a cineplex, a supermarket, and a food court.
Pier 21 food court at Terminal 21 has gained popularity among many locals and tourists due to the collection of available cuisines. Located on the San Francisco floor, the food at Pier 21 food court is fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced.
Payment must be made using a Pier 21 card which must be initially topped up at the central counter before ordering food and drinks.
A distinctive collection of clothes, fashion accessories, beauty products, toys as well as electronics is available at this shopping center. The mall is open from 10 AM to 10 PM. The shopping complex can be reached by taking the BTS Skytrain and MRT with a skywalk at Asok or Sukhumvit stations.
Tip: Ensure to collect the Tourist Privilege Card from the entrance counter to enjoy the discounts
Central World
Opened in 1990, Central World shopping complex is one of the largest shopping malls in Bangkok. Located at Ratchadamri Road near Erawan Shrine, this mall comprises more than 500 shops, 100 restaurants and cafes, 15 cinemas, a Kid’s Zone, Learning Centre, a food court, and a supermarket. The Central World shopping complex has also renowned for its position as the world’s 9th largest shopping mall.
This shopping center meets the shopping needs of all types of generations. The wide range of products and services offered at Central World has made it one stop for shopping needs.
Central World can be reached by BTS sky train Sukhumvit - Siam and Silom stations. The shopping complex is open from 10 AM to 10 PM daily.
Images: terminal 21 - hotels.com
- Mar 14, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: May 6, 2023
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice is one of the all-time favourite dishes of many locals as well as tourists visiting Singapore. Originated around 1930s – 1940s, this dish is influenced by the Chinese cultural cooking, and it’s also considered as one of the national dishes of Singapore.
The dish comprises a portion of steamed chicken served with a bowl of rice cooked in chicken stock. The tenderness and flavour fullness of the steamed chicken paired with freshly cooked warm fragrant rice is a perfect combination for anyone looking for a fulfilling meal. Some restaurants also serve this dish along with a small portion of the freshly cut cucumber slices. If you prefer to add more flavour to this delicious meal, you can add some dipping sauce like dark soy sauce or chili sauce on top of the chicken, which is readily available on most of the restaurant tables.
The Hainanese Chicken Rice is widely available among many hawker centers, shopping mall food courts, restaurants, and hotels in Singapore. The most popular Hainanese Chicken Rice is served at the Michelin star rated Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Restaurant located at the Maxwell hawker centre. The dish is priced reasonably at a rate of SGD 5 (Singapore dollars). Due to its popularity in the community the restaurant tends to attract many crowds during regular lunch and dinner hours, therefore if you are planning a visit this restaurant it’s advisable to reach in advance to the regular dinning hours.
Laksa
Originated from Peranakan cuisine around 15th - 17th century, Laksa dish is another meal which has gained popularity among many locals and tourists over time.
This unique dish consists of rice noodles, shrimps, chicken, fish cakes and served in bowl of warm spicy coconut milk curry soup. There are many variations of the Laksa dish based on the ingredients included in its preparation. However, the Katong style laksa is the most popular variety.
Whether you are travelling around China town or around Orchard road, there are plenty of places to enjoy this sensational culinary cuisine. Laksa can be consumed during breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Based on the potion size ordered the price of a Laksa bowl might vary. Generally, a small bowl of Laksa is priced around SGD 5 (Singapore dollars) whilst a large bowl of Laksa is priced around SGD 7 (Singapore dollars).
Singapore Style Chili Crab
The Singapore Style Chili Crab dish is one of the finest culinary inventions of Singapore. Originated in mid 1950s, many travelers never miss out to try-out this dish when they visit Singapore. This delicious culinary cuisine has also been renowned as one of the “world's 50 most delicious foods” by CNN Go in 2011.
The dish consists of jumbo-sized mud crabs stir fried in oil and then cooked in a thick gravy filled with tomato puree, chili sauce, sambal, ketchup, and eggs. The cracked open crabs soak in all the flavours of the gravy that it’s truly an irresistible and a satisfying feeling to indulge in this dish. The flavour of this dish is a mix of savoury, sweet with a touch of spiciness to it.
The Singapore Style Chili Crab is usually paired with mini size breads which is commonly known as “Mantou Buns” (fried or steamed Chinese buns). The buns are used to dip into the delicious thick gravy. For best experience use both your hands to enjoy the authentic flavours of the juicy crab meat, also let the buns soak in the flavours of the gravy before having a bite of it.
This dish is more commonly ordered during dinner but it’s available during lunch hours as well. Singapore Style Chili Crab are usually priced around SGD11 (100g). The most famous restaurants for Singapore Style Chili crab are the JUMBO seafood restaurant and Long Beach Seafood restaurant.
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